I'm a Film Commissioner, Long Island International Film Expo Director, novelist, freelancer, ghost writer, casting director and producer. I don't know what lies ahead, but I'm sure it will be fun! Take my hand; join me on my journey.
"With regard to jobs and locations postings; Although I've worked with many of these people/companies before - please be advised that you contact them at your own risk and need to vet them for yourself. Caveat Emptor."

Friday, December 10, 2010

The next Filmmakers Connection Meeting will be our Holiday Gathering held on Monday (Yes, that’s a Monday), December 13, 2010 at 7:30 pm in Room 312 of Five Towns College in Dix Hills, NY 11746. Come network and celebrate the holiday/new year coming with refreshments. Donna McKenna will be collecting canned (please check expiration dates) and paper goods once again, and we will have a $5, 50/50 raffle at the party, For each item a person brings they will be given a raffle ticket to win a Holiday gift pack.

Every year, the LIFTF holds a Nursing Home Show put together by Donna McKenna. It will be held Saturday, Dec 11 at 2:15 pm at Our Lady of Constellations in West Islip. This will be our 4th year and the residents are very excited about us returning. Anyone that is interested can email Donna McKenna at dmmcasting@aol.com. If you can dance, sing, do a skit, play an instrument or just hold a residents hand – you could be a good fit. Donna can also use an intern to help her and her husband to set up. Please let Donna know if you can entertain, help, or just want to attend and keep the seniors company.

The Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE) is now accepting films for consideration for the 2011 festival. Get in on the deeply discounted early bird submissions until February 18 at http://liifilmexpo.org/ or www.longislandfilm.com The 14th annual LIIFE will be held from July 8 – 14, 2011, with the closing party on Thursday, July 14 – Buffet 5:00 – 6:30 in Filmmakers Lounge, with awards ceremony beginning next door in the Bellmore Movies at 6:45 pm. General admission is $55, or $45 for Filmmakers Connection Members!

LONG ISLAND FILM/TV FONDATION FINISHING FUND GRANTS ARE NOW OPEN!! Cut-off date for grants is February 28, 2011. Forms will be online shortly at: http://longislandfilm.com/sections/grants.html or e-mail debfilm@aol.com for an application. Grants are given out at the LIIFE closing party and awards ceremony.

If you’re interested in finding out up-to-the-minute information on film jobs that I hear about (both cast and crew) or locations needed for film/tv/commercials, plus other film related information (or my own personal musings), check www.debramarkowitz.blogspot.com You can also sign up for our twitter account below, and I will tweet whenever I have anything film-related of interest. Let’s keep the work here!! If you are a filmmaker/casting person who knows of any positions, I can post those for you as well. Please e-mail me details: Union or nonUnion, personnel needed, whether it’s a paid position, when, where and what. Thank you.

If you had a film in the Long Island International Film Expo and have received a distribution deal (DVD, theatrical, and/or television), please send us a blurb and a link, and we’ll promote it for you on the Long Island International Film Expo facebook site.

If you have a home in Nassau County and would like to list it as a possible location for film/tv/commercial production, please contact debfilm@aol.com or call 516 571-3168.

If you have a business, service, or headshot you would like to bring to the attention of the dedicated audience that visits LongIslandFilm.com – consider placing a banner ad. They are quite reasonable this year, and could easily double in price by next year. If you sign up shortly, you will have your ad shown in random rotation for an entire year. Small banner ads are $150 – (120 x 60 pixels). Large banner ads are $300 (468 x 60 pixels). If interested, please e-mail your banner ad in the appropriate amount of pixels to debfilm@aol.com. Please include the URL you would like your ad to be connected to. You can pay by check to LIFTF, or by PalPay under “The Foundation” and then “Donations.” Just let us know when you send in your banner ad. You can now pay for your membership to the Filmmakers Connection through PayPal on the www.LongIslandFilm.com website. Please be sure to include your name, address, phone #, e-mail address, which area of the film industry you are involved in (ex. Writer/director/producer) and whether or not you are already getting this newsletter by e-mail. Cost is $30 per year fee. If you are a student with current ID, it is $15 to join.)

If you would like to become a member (or renew your membership) of the Filmmakers Connection, please send $30, made out to the LIFTF to the Long Island Film/TV Foundation, c/o Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Avenue, Side Entrance, Bellmore, NY 11710. You may also pay at the meetings. The $30 membership fee entitles you to attend the Filmmakers Connection meetings for free. It also entitles you to discounts on Foundation functions such as the Long Island International Film Expo, the Awards Ceremony party, all mailings and newsletters, and (if all other criteria is met) a chance at winning the $1,000/$500 Finishing Fund Grant. (When you send in your $30, please be sure to include your name, address, phone number, e-mail address and how you are involved with the film industry, i.e. director, producer, voice overs, etc.) and whether you are already getting this newsletter by e-mail. If you are a student with appropriate college/high school ID, the cost is $15 to join for the year. If you do not join, you can still attend meetings for free.

Please be advised that the Foundation/Film Commissions/Film Offices are not responsible for speaker cancellations. Every effort will be taken to insure a speaker’s availability on the date mentioned. In case of a cancellation, every effort will be made to book an alternate speaker.

For information on the Long Island Film/TV Foundation contact Robert Hansen at 516 707-2237. For information about the Long Island International Film Expo, please contact Debra Markowitz at 516 571-3168.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Nassau County Film Office Director Debra Markowitz and Steve Buscemi of Boardwalk Empire at the first awards ceremony of the Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE) circa 1998

Hello All, (These must be in Nassau County)I hope you are enjoying this holiday season and that all is well.I am working on Boardwalk Empire, and they are scouting for 1920's locations or ones that can be dressed as such. They are interested in seeing warehouses, homes (in period neighborhoods or stand alone), restaurants/bars, ballrooms, etc. Please let me know whatever you may have available in the Nassau County area. Photos would be helpful. If you have any suggestions, please e-mail debfilm@aol.com and reference this job.Also, we are having our location and studio tour from December 14 - 15 and bringing location managers and producers to many of our sites here in Nassau County. We're looking for items for the goodie bags. I'm thinking usuable items from businesses/locations in Nassau County. We'd need 25 - 30 of them. If you have anything good, please let me know.Thank you for your attention.Best,Debbie

Naked in the Rain

About Me

Debra Markowitz is the Director of the Nassau County Film Office. In this capacity, Ms. Markowitz presides over the Nassau County Film Commission, now known as the Nassau County Film Advisory Board, and chairs as its Executive Director.
Ms. Markowitz also serves as Vice President of the Long Island Film/TV Foundation, Long Island’s most established and largest not-for-profit agency dedicated to the support and promotion of independent filmmaking. She also helped found the Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE).
Debra Markowitz is also a freelance writer and novelist. The third book in her trilogy (following Naked in the Rain and Sarah and Caleb), Karmic Wind is set for release in 2013. For a complete list of her work, please visit her site, www.debramarkowitz.com.
An enthusiastic fellow filmmaker, Ms. Markowitz has acted as Casting Director, consultant, writer and producer on movie, television and commercial projects individually and with CastingKarma.
Debra Markowitz is also an avid yoga practitioner.